Plastic bags and torn-up paintings adorn the walls of Lucas’ space, which expose his openness to any medium in the art-making process.

Lucas calls this a “couch painting,” mocking the idea that art is simply decorative, like a tapestry behind a couch. He originally intended to depict a man sitting in a river, surrounded by nymphs. Unsatisfied, he transformed his painting by spattering paint across the canvas.

Lucas created these boxes in 2009 when he lived on Greene St. and had limited funds for supplies. He turned old cardboard into canvas and mixed paint with toothpaste.

“Japan was where I started my mature work and, really, where I found myself, both as a person and an artist.”

Lucas spent his freshman year of college studying art in Japan at Temple University. He draws inspiration from Japanese pop art, ancient cultures, art history, Baroque art, classical art and alchemy.